Buffalo Bills News - April 22, 2002

Bledsoe is traded to Bills [6:04 AM]Worcester Telegram and Gazette reports:
'The deal apparently went over well in Buffalo. Even before it was announced, the Bills opened their box office to accommodate fans who heard the trade was imminent. Buffalo, which failed to sell out four of its eight home games last season, drew 504,709 fans last year, the lowest since 1987.'

Drew tapped to fill the bill [6:03 AM]Worcester Telegram and Gazette reports:
'Drew Bledsoe became a Bill yesterday afternoon because Donahoe, Buffalo's team president and general manager, was more worried about going into next season without the strong-armed former Pro Bowl QB than Belichick was worried about going into training camp with him.'

Bills Meet Pats' Price [6:02 AM]Hartford Courant reports:
'Bledsoe, who appeared at the early April White House ceremony honoring the Patriots, hasn't talked to Belichick since the season ended.'

Bledsoe Never Lost Dignity [6:01 AM]Hartford Courant reports:
'Even when he was the star, Bledsoe never publicly criticized his teammates.'

Chatter Box [6:00 AM]Hartford Courant reports:
'There is a certain amount of arrogance attached to the Bledsoe trade, otherwise the Patriots would not have dealt him to a division rival. Kraft could have taken less and spared Bledsoe the humiliation of having to revisit Foxboro twice a year for the remainder of his career. Bledsoe will undoubtedly suck it up and take playing the Patriots as an extra special challenge.'

Pats Trade Bledsoe To Division-Rival Bills [5:59 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'In fact, if the Bills are a bad team again, which would be no surprise at all, it will strengthen the defending Super Bowl champs, who after yesterday's trade now own Buffalo's No. 1 pick in 2003, which could easily be in the top five.'

Bills drew draft-day winner [5:58 AM]New York Post reports:
'The Patriots, willing to trade their former franchise quarterback within the division after all, accepted a No. 1 draft pick in 2003 for Bledsoe, and heavens to Jim Kelly, the Bills are contenders again.'

Pats Trade Bledsoe To Bills for '03 Pick [5:57 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'"We all knew what the situation was," Belichick said of his quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady. "A football team can have only one starting quarterback."'

Patriots trade Bledsoe to Bills for pick next year [5:56 AM]Nashville Tennessean reports:
'Bledsoe has a $5 million salary this season, $5.5 million in 2003 and $6 million in 2004. On Nov. 1, 2004, the Bills will have to decide whether to pay a $7 million option that triggers the remainder (2005-2010) of the contract.'

Buffalo bound [5:54 AM]Houston Chronicle reports:
'Bledsoe told the Patriots he would retire rather than return for his 10th season as a backup to Brady and that he preferred to remain in the AFC East. He turned down a chance to be dealt to Cincinnati.'

Patriots Trade Drew Bledsoe to Bills for Draft Pick [5:52 AM]Bloomberg reports:
'"For many reasons and at many levels, this was a difficult trade to make,'' Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "He gave our fans some of the greatest memories in the franchise's history. Drew Bledsoe is a special player."'

Beyond Bledsoe, Bills plug holes with six more draft picks [5:51 AM]AP reports:
'"It's a significant difference from when I came here a year ago, let alone at the end of the season," Williams said. "Obviously, we've improved it in a lot of different ways. But now it comes time to continue to work. When we open up training camp, we've all got to be on the same page."'

April 21, 2002

Final 2002 Draft Wrap-up - Press Conference [9:59 PM]buffalobills.com reports:
Gregg Williams - "Obviously this is a very exciting day. It made us a much better football team. I think that we have done a great job since January in improving (the football team) and I think we've taken another great step today in improving (the team) with that acquisition."

Bills Acquire Drew Bledsoe - Press Conference [9:59 PM]buffalobills.com reports:
We are thrilled to have Drew Bledsoe. We think he is a great quarterback. We think he is a tremendous competitor and he is going to bring excitement and energy to our football team and really provide us with, what we think, will be the type of quarterback that can help us as we go into the future.

Bledsoe builds excitement in Buffalo [8:21 PM]USA Today reports:
'Even before the deal was announced, the Bills opened their box office to accommodate fans who heard the trade was imminent. Buffalo, which failed to sell out four of its eight home games last season, drew 504,709 fans last year, the lowest since 1987.'

Bledsoe bound for Buffalo [8:01 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
Alex Van Pelt, who showed some promise down the stretch in place of the injured Rob Johnson last season, will be relegated to a backup role. The Patriots drafted Louisiana State QB Rohan Davey in the fourth round Sunday, which signaled something may indeed be in the works for Bledsoe, who was the first pick in the 1993 draft out of Washington State and owns nearly every Patriots passing record.

Bills gave up too much for Bledsoe [7:32 PM]Fox Sports reports:
The Buffalo Bills chose not to sign free-agent Jeff Blake as their next quarterback and, instead swung a deal for veteran Drew Bledsoe. That was smart. But it took a first-round draft choice to get him, and that was too expensive.

Fearlessly grading Saturday's first-rounders [7:19 PM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'The Bills thought long and hard (according to Bills not at all) about taking Albert Haynesworth here, but in the end Tom Donahoe opted to go for Williams. He's a big, powerful player who can play right or left tackle -- probably right for the Bills. That will allow them to move Jonas Jennings to guard in what shapes up as a decent line. Grade: B. That defensive line still has a huge hole in the middle.'

Bledsoe move good for Pats, but great for Bills [6:59 PM]CBS Sportsline reports:
The Buffalo Bills are now a playoff contender. There, it's said. Crazy? Did anyone think the New England Patriots could win the Super Bowl last season? Didn't think so.

7th Round pick - part 4: ILB Antone 'Dominique' Stevenson [6:09 PM]NFL.com reports:
College: Tennessee Height: 5-11.6 Weight: 222
Very quick and active run stuffer... Stays under control knifing through the line of scrimmage... Has good strength to take on the fullback to fill the rush lanes... Uses his hands well when covering the tight ends and running backs in the short area passing game... Has the quickness to string plays wide and prevent the long gain around the outside corner... Adjusts to the flow of traffic and has fluid lateral agility... Could shift to fullback at the pro level.

Super Bowl champs trade Bledsoe to Buffalo [6:06 PM]AP reports:
'Even before the deal was announced, the Bills opened their box office to accommodate fans who heard the trade was imminent. Buffalo, which failed to sell out four of its eight home games last season, drew 504,709 fans last year, the lowest since 1987.'

7th Round pick - part 3: FB Jarrett Ferguson [5:52 PM]NFL.com reports:
College: Virginia Tech Height: 5-8 Weight: 222
Bruising inside runner with good weave-and-hip movement upfield... Changes direction well and has an assortment of moves to cut back outside when turning the corner... Breaks arm tackles easily and has excellent short-area quickness... Has large, soft hands and great ball awareness as a receiver out of the backfield.

7th Round pick - part 2: WR Rodney Wright [5:50 PM]NFL.com reports:
College: Fresno State Height: 5-8 Weight: 175
Crisp route runner with an explosive burst off the line ? Can transition quickly, showing a fluid change of direction ? Fearless in a crowd and has the acceleration needed to defeat defenders racing down the sidelines.

Post Pick Press Conference On OG Mike Pucillo [5:47 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
[NOTE: writer is slightly confused or in a hurry - they list him as a 6th round pick]
Q: Do you like him as center?
A: We thought that he had the ability to play center. We took him as a guard; at least what we valued the most was him at a guard. He's a smart kid and has enough athletic ability to add to that spot as maybe a backup or a second at the position. As you know in the NFL especially in the NFL the more positions you can play and the more flexible you are the better. The more things you can do to be the utility guy, especially when you dress 8 guys, you have to have someone who can play at center as well in this league.